Abstract: The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to objective lens changers for optical instruments. In one embodiment, an objective lens changer includes an objective lens carrier moveably attached to a changer frame by a mechanical link arrangement. The objective lens carrier includes two or more objective lens positions. The mechanical link arrangement includes a first link section to provide translation of the objective lens carrier between the objective lens positions and a second link section arranged to control an alignment of the objective lens position with respect to the optical axis of the optical instrument.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and apparatus that is able to authenticate and prevent illegal manufacturing and unauthorized operation of disposable bioprocess components. This invention utilizes a ferro-electric random access memory chip (FRAM) chip to store error-correctable information on a RFID tag attached to the disposable bioprocess components, where the error-correctable information is written in sequence into the memory chip, so that the redundant information can remain in the chip when the RFID tag and disposable bioprocess component is gamma-sterilized. Also, this invention includes a method for authenticating the disposable bioprocess component that reduces liability in that a counterfeit poor quality disposable component is not used on the hardware so the user will not file an unjustified complaint.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of increasing product yield per culture in a population of product-secreting cells bound to a scaffold, for example, a microcarrier, at least partially immersed in a culture medium in a bioreactor. The method comprising: semi-harvesting product by removing a volume of the culture medium with a first-secreted product concentration while leaving the scaffold with the bound cells in the bioreactor; re-feeding the cells by adding a fresh culture medium to increase the culture medium in the bioreactor to approximately the original volume; agitating the culture medium to allow the cells to grow and release a second-secreted product concentration; harvesting product by removing the culture medium with the second-secreted product concentration while leaving the scaffold with the bound cells behind. Also disclosed is a method of increasing virus yield per culture in a population of virus-infected cells bound to a microcarrier suspended in a culture medium.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to imaging technologies, and, in particular, to an imaging system that detects relatively weak signals, over time, and that uses the detected signals to determine the positions of signal emitters. Particular embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for imaging fluorophore-labeled samples in order to produce images of the sample at resolutions significantly greater than the diffraction-limited resolution associated with optical microscopy. Embodiments of the present invention employ overlapping-emitter-image disambiguation to allow data to be collected from densely arranged emitters, which significantly decreases the data-collection time for producing intermediate images as well as the number of intermediate images needed to computationally construct high-resolution final images. Additional embodiments of the present invention employ hierarchical image-processing techniques to further resolve and interpret disambiguated images.

Abstract: A probe assembly for inserting a probe into a flexible or semi-rigid vessel or tubing having a distal aseptic connector for coupling to the vessel or tubing, the probe sheath comprising at least a portion that is rigid, the probe sheath extending longitudinally from the aseptic connector and having at least one inner longitudinal lumen configured to receive an elongate sensor or probe body and to permit longitudinal movement of the sensor/probe body within the probe sheath lumen, and an actuator for deploying a probe within the vessel or tubing by advancing the probe body through the aseptic connector to a position where the probe can measure at least one parameter within the vessel or tubing is disclosed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a user interface including an image panel for displaying a field of view corresponding to an image, or a portion of an image, of a biological specimen, and a biomarker panel for displaying thumbnail images for simultaneously viewing different aspects of a region within the field of view. Upon selection or update of the selected region of the field of view, the thumbnail images may be accordingly updated automatically to display the newly selected region. The image panel may include an interest region selection component for delineating a region within the field of view. The interest region selection component may be overlaid over a portion of the field of view displayed in the image panel, and may be used by a user to select or update the region within the field of view displayed in the biomarker panel. Images of interest may be saved to an electronic record.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to characterization of biological samples via modular image analysis. By way of example, the analysis may include extracting plurality of regions of interest from the biological sample from a plurality of image data sets. Each region of interest may include a combination of one or more subsets of an image data set. In one example, an image data set may be generated by image segmentation. After each region of interest is extracted, at least one metric of the region of interest may be determined.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a formulation capable of enhancing thermostability and shelf-life of a biological product, the formulation comprising: a tertiary amine N-oxide or a derivative thereof represented by the formulae: wherein R1, R2, and R3 may be identical or different and each is a straight or branched lower alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; an inorganic salt; glutamic acid or a salt thereof; a polyol; a physiologically acceptable buffer, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The tertiary amine N-oxide may be trimethylamine-N-oxide, (CH3)3NO. The formulation is useful for vaccine stabilization.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating single-stranded DNA circles from a biological sample. The method comprises the steps of: treating the biological sample with an extractant to release nucleic acids, thereby forming a sample mixture; neutralizing the extractant; denaturing the released nucleic acids to generate single-stranded nucleic acids; and contacting the single-stranded nucleic acids with a ligase that is capable of template-independent, intramolecular ligation of single-stranded DNA to generate the single-stranded DNA circles. All the steps of the method are performed without any intermediate nucleic acid isolation or nucleic acid purification. The single-stranded DNA circles may be amplified and further analyzed. Also provided is a kit which comprises compositions for carrying out the novel methods.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to an automated determination the stain quality and segmentation quality of a tissue sample. By way of example, separate image data is acquired of an unstained form of a biological specimen, the biological specimen stained with a nuclei marker and the biological specimen stained with a segmentation marker. A correlation map (Cr) from the separate image data and a ridgeness map (Pr) from the image data of the biological specimen stained with a segmentation marker are each determined. A staining quality score and segmentation quality score are then determined from the correlation map (Cr) and the ridgeness map (Pr).

Abstract: Variable orientation illumination-pattern rotators (“IPRs”) that can be incorporated into structured illumination microscopy instruments to rapidly rotate an interference pattern are disclosed. An IPR includes a rotation selector and at least one mirror cluster. The rotation selector directs beams of light into each one of the mirror clusters for a brief period of time. Each mirror cluster imparts a particular predetermined angle of rotation on the beams. As a result, the beams output from the IPR are rotated through each of the rotation angles imparted by each of the mirror clusters. The rotation selector enables the IPR to rotate the beams through each predetermined rotation angle on the order of 5 milliseconds or faster.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for condensing moisture in a moist gas stream entering a bioreactor or leaving a bioreactor, the system comprising: a condenser container capable of holding a fluid, the condenser container comprising: an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface, the inner wall surface defining an interior chamber for holding the fluid; and a first fitment attached to the outer wall surface of the condenser container, the first fitment forming a first port configured to allow the moist gas stream to flow through the first port and into the interior chamber; a second fitment attached to the outer wall surface of the condenser container, the second fitment forming a second port configured to allow a dried gas to flow from the interior chamber and out of the second port; and a cooling device in contact with at least one portion of the outer wall surface of the condenser container and arranged to cool the at least one portion of the outer wall surface of the condenser container, thereby

Abstract: Microscopy instruments with detectors located on one side of the instruments are disclosed. The microscopy instruments include a splitting system and an array of detectors disposed on one side of the instrument. A beam composed of two or more separate emission channels is separated by the splitting system into two or more beams that travel along separate paths so that each beam reaches a different detector in the array of detectors. Each beam is a different emission channel and the beams are substantially parallel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a customizable bio-manufacturing system which includes a manufacturing space having a first air handling system for providing supply air and a second air handling system for handling exhaust air, the supply air system being optionally provided with at least one of filtration, heating, cooling and or humidity control and a plurality of portable modules provided within the manufacturing space. At least one module having an interior capable of being interconnected with another module interior and each module's interior includes one or more components to perform at least one specific task of a biological, chemical, and/or pharmaceutical manufacturing process. At least one module includes an on-board environmental control system for controlling an environment within the module and a connection means for interconnecting the module interior with another module interior.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical collapsible mixing vessel, comprising: a) a flexible plastic film side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, wherein both the top wall and the bottom wall are attached to the side wall and the side, top and bottom walls define an inner volume of the vessel; b) an agitator located in the inner volume and; c) at least one vortex breaker made from flexible plastic film, located in the inner volume and attached to the bottom wall and/or the side wall via string elements, wherein said vortex breaker extends along the side wall and inwards in a generally radial direction.

Abstract: The invention provides a an inactive, non-replicating vaccine comprising whole virion, chemically inactivated Yellow Fever virus which is inactivated using a method that ensures preservation of critical, neutralizing epitopes. The Yellow Fever virus has been adapted to propagate in cells to higher yields than the unadapted virus. The invention also provides methods for preventing Yellow Fever viral infection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for executing super-resolution microscopy of a specimen with most of the image processing performed in a camera of a fluorescence microscopy instrument are described. In one aspect, the camera includes one or more processors to execute machine-readable instructions that control excitation light output from a multi-channel light source, control capture of intermediate images of the specimen, and perform image processing of the intermediate images to produce a final super-resolution image of the specimen.

Abstract: A bioreactor control system comprises a batch server for controlling a bioreactor system in response to a recipe, a batch software system for generating a control sequence for the bioreactor system via the batch server for implementing the recipe, and a recipe conversion system that inputs the recipe into the batch software system. Preferably, the recipe conversion system reads a word processor file containing the recipe and interprets styles applied to text in the word processor file as indicating equipment and phases of the recipe to the recipe conversion system. Generally, the bioreactor system includes one or more bioreactors and additional hardware to perform the upstream and downstream processing. The document properties of the word processor file containing the recipe are applied as header information for the recipe input into the batch software system.

Abstract: Various beam selectors for selectively placing one of at least two beams of light along the same output path are disclosed. In one aspect, a beam selector receives at least two substantially parallel beams of light. The beam selector includes a plate with an aperture so that when one of the at least two beams is selected for transmission, the beam selector directs only the selected beam along an output path through the aperture. The plate can also serve to block transmission of unselected beams. The output path through the aperture is the same for each of the at least two beams when each beam is selected. Beam selectors can be incorporated into fluorescence microscopy instruments to selectively place particular excitation beams along the same path through the microscope objective lens and into a specimen to excite fluorescence of fluorescent probes attached to a particular component of the specimen.

Abstract: Methods and systems to resolve positions of sample components in fluorescence stochastic microscopy using three-dimensional structured illumination microscopy (“3D-SIM”) are disclosed. In one aspect, components of a sample specimen are labeled with fluorophores and weakly illuminated with a frequency of light to stochastically convert a subset of the fluorophores into an active state. The sample is then illuminated with a three-dimensional structured illumination pattern (“3D-SIP”) of excitation light that causes the activated fluorophores to fluoresce. As the 3D-SIP is incrementally moved within the volume of the sample and images are recorded, computational methods are used to process the images to locate and refine the locations of the activated fluorophores thereby generating a super-resolution image of sample components.